Toy target



Dec. 24, 1957 J. o. KUHN TOY TARGET Filed March 16, 1956 INVENTOR. 213m, 9

ATTO/QA/EX.

United States atent O TOY TARGET James O. Kuhn, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Bromo- Mint Company, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 16, 1956, Serial No. 571,973 4 Claims. (Cl. 273102.1)

This invention relates to toy targets and is directed particularly to an automatic score keeping target.

It is an object of this invention to provide a toy target which can be fired at by toy dart guns of the type disclosed, but not limited to, in copending application, Serial No. 571,975, filed March 16, 1956, which target is cheap to manufacture, easy to assemble and yet can automatically keep score.

It is another object of this invention to provide a target that is pivotally mounted in a box, so that upon being pivoted, the target is adapted to cooperate with an automatic scoring mechanism for counting the score.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target and an automatic scoring counter mechanism including a ratchet wheel and pawl in which the pawl is responsive to the pivotal movement of the target, and the pawl disengages the ratchet wheel upon the target being hit by a dart or the like to energize the scoring mechamsm.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a toy target in combination with an automatic scoring mechanism in which the target is pivotally mounted on a rod by a pawl which is fixed to the target, where upon the target being pivoted the pawl disengages a ratchet wheel and stays disengaged for a length of time proportionate to the moment or turning force about the rod.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a scoring mechanism for a pivoted target, so that the further away from its pivot point that the target is hit, the larger becomes the angle through which the target is pivoted, and, the greater becomes the score registered by the automatic scoring counter mechanism.

Briefly stated, this invention contemplates a target box for use with toy dart guns, in which the target is mounted for pivotal movement, and a score counting mechanism is mechanically connected to the target in such a manner that the score indicated for a particular shot is proportionate to the turning force or angle through which the target moves about its pivot.

These and other objects will become more apparent in the light of the accompanying drawing and specification which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the target and scoring indicia and marker on the front of the target box.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the target box partially in broken section.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the target box taken on lines 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a' cross-sectional view of the target box taken on lines 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the target box showing the target being pivoted in one position upon being hit by one dart and in a second position upon being hit by two darts.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pawl.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the weight or marker.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a target box preferably made of some form of cardboard, but can be made of any other material such as plastics. The target box is comprised of a box-like structure 12 provided with a picture frame 14 on the front. The picture frame has an opening 15 with a target 16 pivotally mounted in the picture frame opening. The target 16 is provided with lines 18 the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter explained. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a pawl 20 is shown secured to the back of the target 16 by gluing or stapling.

In order to support the target and pawl for pivotal movement a support 22 (Figure 2) is fixed on each side of the box, also by gluing or stapling. The support 22 is placed in an oblique position with respect to the side of the box so as to define a space 24 therein, there being a similar space formed on the other side of the box. An opening 26 is formed in each of the supports 22, and an opening 23 formed in the ends of the pawl 20. A first rod 30 extends through the openings 28 in the pawl and the openings 26 in the supports 22. The pawl not only serves the usual function of a pawl but also supports the target for pivotal movement about the rod 30 since the pawl is pivotally mounted on the rod 30.

In order to provide a score counting mechanism which is connected to the pawl so as to be responsive thereto, the supports 22 each have an additional opening 32 positioned further to the rear of the box than the opening 26. A second or pivot rod 34 is positioned for rotation in the openings 32. The second rod 34 has a ratchet wheel 36 fixed thereto. The ratchet 36 includes teeth 38 for engagement with the pawl 20. On opening 39 (Figure l) is shown on the picture frame of the target box adjacent the opening 15. A pull cord 40 fixed to the rod 34 is shown extending over the rod 30 and through the opening 39. The pull cord is wound counterclockwise around the rod 34, as viewed in Figure 4. A pull 42 is shown fastened to the pull cord 40 by extending the pull cord through an opening in the pull 42 and knotting it. It is recognized that any other well known means can be used for fastening the pull to the pull cord 40, such as by stapling or gluing. It is to be noted that upon pulling the pull cord 40 the rod 34 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 to thereby unwind the pull cord. A weight cord 44 is fastened to the rod 34 by either stapling or gluing thereto. It is noted that the weight cord 44 is wound counterclockwise upon the rod 34, as viewed in Figure 3, in an opposite sense as compared to the pull cord 40. Therefore, upon pulling the pull cord 40 to unwind on the rod 34, the weight cord 44 will become wound upon the rod 34. A weight 46 is shown tied to the cord 44, and is of sufficient weight to normally unwind the cord 44- and to wind the pull cord 40.

In order to utilize the weight 46 also as a marker for counting the score, a slot 48 is positioned in the picture frame on the other side of the opening 15 from the pull cord 40. The weight 46 is formed from a fiat piece of metal having grooves 50 on either side. The grooves 50 fit about the marginal edges of the slot 48 so that a portion 52 of the weight 46 serves as a marker by extending over the slot 48 and indicia 54. Another portion 56 of the weight extends over the back of the picture frame on either side of the slot 48. In addition the weight 46 is bent in the shape of an L so that the other portion 56 slides along the back of the target box so as to guide the weight. For further guidance of the weight 46, and also the weight cord 44, a V-shaped guide 58 is fixed to the back of the picture frame extending over the slot inside the target box. The guide is secured by stapling or gluing to the picture frame on both sides of the slot. 48. It is to be noted that the cord 44 extends over the rod 30 down into the guide 54 so that it can be secured to the weight 46. The indicia 54 is shown on the front of the picture frame adjacent the slot 48, positioned so that the weight 46, which also serves as a marker, can conveniently pass over the indicia. Since the weight or marker 46 is made from a blank sheet of metal, and since its thickness is less than the width of the slot 48, the weight or marker 46 can be readily positioned in the slot 48 by turning the weight 46 over on its side and passing it through the slot 48. Then by returning the weight or marker to its normal position, the marginal edges of the slot will fit into the grooves 50.

In order to ready the target for operation, the pull cord 40 is drawn through the opening 39 by pulling on the pull 42. This unwinds the pull cord 40 from the rod 34 and at the same time lifts the marker to its uppermost starting position, by the cord 44 winding on the rod 34. It is to be noted that pulling on the cord 40 can best be done by holding the bottom of the target 16 inwardly so as to disengage the pawl 20 from the ratchet wheel 36. When the weight or marker 46 has reached its uppermost position the target 16 is permitted to return to its vertical position thereby permitting the pawl 20 to engage the ratchet wheel 36 so that the weight cord cannot become unwound so as to lower the marker.

When a projectile such as a dart is fired at the target and contact made in the vicinity of the lines 18, the target 16 will pivot inwardly into the box 12. When this occurs the pawl 26 will become disengaged from the ratchet 36 thereby permitting the weight 46 to exert sufiicient force to unwind the weight cord 44 and rotate the rod 34. The further toward the bottom of the target that the projectile hits the target, the greater will be the moment arm about the rod 30 and therefore, the moment or turning force. Similarly, if a plurality of darts are fired and make contact with the target at its lowermost position, the moment or turning force will be still greater and pivot the target 16 through a greater angle than if one projectile were used (as shown in Figure It will be readily understood, that the larger the pivotal angle of the target 16, the longer the time the pawl will be out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 36 and the greater the rotation will be of the ratchet 36 and rod 34 due to the weight 46. This will enable the weight or marker 46 to move a greater distance over the indicia of the front of the picture frame. Therefore, the greater the accuracy in directing the projectile to strike the target below the lines 18, the greater the total points the participant will receive since the marker will have more opportunity for greater movement for each shot. Upon firing a plurality of projectiles in sequence at the marker, an increment of movement will be made by contact from each of the projectiles. The movement of the marker for each shot will be based upon the resulting moment. The marker will then automatically indicate the total score obtained.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without sacrificing the advantages provided by the principles of construction disclosed herein.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In combination, a target box and score counting mechanism, the target box comprising a picture frame on the front of the target box, a target adapted to be hit by a projectile, a pawl fixed to the target, a support fixed to each side of the target box, a first rod fixed to the supports, the pawl being pivotally mounted on the fixed rod so that the target can be pivoted outside the plane of the picture frame, a pull cord opening and a vertical slot in the picture frame, indicia adjacent the vertical slot, a V-shaped guide on the rear of the picture frame and extending over the vertical slot; the score counting mechanism comprising a second rod rotatably mounted in the supports, a ratchet wheel fixed to the rod and positioned so as to be engageable by the pawl, a pull cord fixed to the second rod and extending over the first rod and through the pull cord opening, a weight cord fixed to the second rod and extending over the first rod and into the V-shaped guide, the pull cord and weight cord being wound in opposite senses on the second rod, a weight fixed to the weight cord and extending partially through the slot, the portion extending through the slot forming a marker for passing over the indicia to indicate the score, the weight being sufficiently heavy to rotate the second rod upon disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet wheel with the weight cord becoming unwound and the pull cord wound, the amount of movement of the weight being a function of the length of time the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel which is in turn a function of the moment of the projectile on the target with respect to the first rod.

2. In combination, a target and an automatic scoring counter comprising a box having an opening in the side thereof, a target panel, means pivotally mounting said target panel within the opening for swinging movement about a horizontal axis adjacent to the upper edge of the panel, a rod mounted within the box behind the upper part of the target panel for rotation about an axis paralleling the first mentioned axis, a ratchet wheel on said red, the side of said box adjacent to the opening having a vertical slot therein, scoring indicia associated with said slot, a weighted marker slidably engaged in said slot, a cord having one end affixed to said weighted marker and having the opposite end wound around said rod in a direction such that the pull of gravity on the weighted marker tends to rotate the ratchet in a first direction, a pawl mounted on the back of the target panel adjacent to the first mentioned axis, the pawl having an edge positioned to engage the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet in the said first direction when the target panel is hanging vertically, said edge adapted to be disengaged from the ratchet to swing the lower edge of the panel into the box when the front of the target panel is struck by a missile, thereby freeing the ratchet so that the rod may be rotated in the said first direction by the pull of the weighted marker to permit the marker to move downwardly relative to the scoring indicia associated with the slot, and means to rotate the rod in the second direction for rewinding the cord on said rod and resetting the marker relative to the scoring indicia.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the means to rotate the rod in the second direction comprises a second cord wound around the rod in the second direction and extending through an aperture in the side of the box adjacent to the opening, and a pull on the outer end of the second cord which is light in weight compared to the weighted marker, whereby the second cord is wound onto the rod as the first cord unwinds.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which the target panel has indicia thereon to indicate areas of the panel adjacent to the lower edge thereof where an impact by a missile is effective to swing the panel inwardly to a greater extent than like impacts on areas of the target panel above said lower edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,361 Hockett NOV. 21, 1905 ,171 Vertunni Nov. 23, 1915 9,105 Sanford July 8, 1919 

